How To: AirPods Are Getting Even Better Thanks to iOS 18

If you're an AirPods user, things are going to get a lot better with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. If you're not, it may finally be time to grab yourself a set of AirPods, especially if you're into privacy and gaming.

Apple's iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 gave AirPods new features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume, and easy mute and unmuting. Now, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will further enhance AirPods' abilities with a suite of innovative features designed to make your interactions more intuitive, your calls clearer, and your gaming sessions more immersive.

• Get AirPods Pro (2nd generation): $189.99 on Amazon or $229 on B&H Photo Video

1. Siri Interactions

With iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, your AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will include Siri Interactions. It may seem like an odd name for a new Siri feature since all your exchanges with Siri are technically interactions, whether voice, text, or touch. But the upcoming updates add another layer: head movements.

With Siri Interactions, you'll get an intuitive, hands-free experience with your AirPods Pro, making exchanges with Siri not only more convenient but also more private. You'll no longer have to talk to Siri out loud in quiet environments where everyone can hear you or in crowded areas where it's awkward to do so.

To respond to a question or announcement from Siri when wearing AirPods Pro, nod your head up and down to answer "yes" or shake it side to side for "no" — it's that easy. Enabled by machine learning on the H2 chip, these two head gestures let you answer calls, dismiss calls, interact with messages, manage your notifications, and more, all without having to speak.

2. Voice Isolation

AirPods Pro's new Voice Isolation feature will be a game changer if you often find yourself in noisy environments. Voice Isolation, already available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, uses machine learning on the H2 chip on AirPods Pro (2nd generation) to enhance your voice while filtering out background noise, such as wind, ensuring that you come through loud and clear on calls. Whether at a busy café or walking down a windy street, Voice Isolation will see to it that the person on the other end hears your voice without ambient interference.

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3. Personalized Spatial Audio in Games

Personalized Spatial Audio, which uses the TrueDepth camera on your iPhone, has been available since iOS 16. The feature scans your face and ears and creates a personal Spatial Audio profile fine-tuned for a more immersive listening experience with audiovisual content in supported apps, like FaceTime.

Once you create a profile, you can use it across all your iCloud-connected devices running at least iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, macOS 13, tvOS 16, watchOS 9, or visionOS. And it works with:

• AirPods Pro (1st generation)
• AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
• AirPods Max
• AirPods (3rd generation)
• Beats Fit Pro
• Beats Solo 4
• Beats Studio Pro

What's new in the latest software update is support for Personalized Spatial Audio and head tracking in games. This means you'll experience immersive, 3D soundscapes that move with you, making your gaming sessions more engaging than ever. You'll feel like you're right in the middle of the action, with sounds coming from all around you.

4. Reduced Audio Latency in Games

Nothing ruins a gaming experience like audio lag. With the latest update, AirPods Pro will offer the best wireless audio latency Apple has ever delivered for mobile gaming. This means the delay between your actions and the sound you hear will seem almost nonexistent, giving you a more responsive and immersive gaming experience in Apple's new Game Mode.

5. Improved Voice Quality in Games

Clarity is key when communicating with your gaming teammates. AirPods Pro will now support improved voice quality, including 16-bit, 48kHz audio. This will ensure that your voice comes through crisp and clear when chatting, making it easier to coordinate strategies and enjoy seamless conversations during gaming sessions.

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6. Developer API for Advanced Sound Design

Apple is also introducing a new developer API, making it easier for game developers to create immersive audio experiences. This tool will help developers take full advantage of the advanced sound capabilities of AirPods, ensuring that your games sound better than ever.

According to Apple, Need for Speed Mobile will be one of the first titles to take advantage of the new Personalized Spatial Audio APIs.

The Future of AirPods Pro Sounds Great

Get ready to elevate your AirPods experience with these groundbreaking updates coming soon. Whether taking calls, interacting with Siri, or diving into a game, these new features are designed to make your life easier and more enjoyable.

All these exciting new features will be available as a free firmware update this fall. If you're a member of the Apple Developer Program, you can already access the iOS/iPadOS Beta.